Although facebook has been the gift that keeps on giving in terms of confirming whether or not a prospective date is or is not a liberal, for this installment I thought Id put my instincts to the test by participating in the very underrated process of stereotyping.

I think, and rightfully so, that many Americans feel that Los Angeles is a place bankrupt of spirituality not to mention just plain bankrupt. However, there is a spiritual movement among Angelinos that folks may not be aware of, largely because it is a faith so self indulgent it would be difficult for the average hard working American to fathom. This movement is called Spiritual Psychology.

Let me just say this for fear of being labeled judgmental: I have nothing against spirituality or psychology; in fact, I actually saw a Medicine Man on an Indian reservation in the Jemez Valley to help me with a problem Id prefer not to discuss here. It was an extremely spiritual, dare I say magical experience, after which my problem did not improve in the least.

In terms of psychology, I am a huge proponent, having spent countless hours and dollars on a therapists couch over the years. The results have been miraculous: I am aware of every problem I have ever had and the root cause behind each one of those problems, and yet somehow have not discovered the means to change a single pattern of behavior.

So what Im saying is .Im open. So when a platonic girlfriend of mine mentioned she was attending a University for Spiritual Psychology, my interest was peaked. She was what I call...

Now the Culps had their pitch down. They knew that every potential buyer in that room (save for one) was lost, desperate, searching, dissatisfied with his or her life, and therefore openand by open I mean subject to influence.

They cleverly used the word Stuck. A word so general anyone could find meaning in it, not unlike a fortune cookie. We were all united by our inability to improve our lives .and guess who had the ability to pull us out of the mud? The Culps. They would lead us out. Dont get me wrong, we would all have to do our part. We would all pitch in like a not so shovel ready emotional public works program which would require extensive sharing .so much sharing, in fact, that it would make an Alanon group seem like a bunch of introverts.

In addition, we would have to let go of our painful ego structure by removing identity. Let me repeat that let go of our painful ego structure by removing identity. The math was basic and alarming.

Once we removed our identities, we could manifest what we wanted in our lives: the great job, the big break, the perfect woman, less back hair

The results have been miraculous: I am aware of every problem I have ever had and the root cause behind each one of those problems, and yet somehow have not discovered the means to change a single pattern of behavior.

On the note something was written, something I wanted. My note said Newt in 2012. I was to put the note back in the box and bury it in the sand for another loving soul to find. I hoped 65 million loving souls would find that box.

Good article, with an excellent conclusion.

6
posted on 07/28/2009 7:51:15 AM PDT
by Tax-chick
(Do you like every snake? I like every snake!)

We chose a nice spot to sit down. The lotus position was implied so I bent myself uncomfortably into it. Before there was sharing of any kind, Jaquelib wanted to begin with a guided meditation. She would be my guide. Eyes closed. Breathe. Breathe. I was instructed to mentally travel to the whitest of sand beaches where I would discover a box that was left just for me. I was to open the box and see the note inside. On the note something was written, something I wanted. My note said Newt in 2012. I was to put the note back in the box and bury it in the sand for another loving soul to find. I hoped 65 million loving souls would find that box. Breathe. Breathe. I was definitely breathing, yet she kept saying it. Eyes closed but then I heard a stirring in the brush from below the ridge so I opened one eye. Breathe. Breathe. The noise louder .closer and then up from God knows where, Breitbart appeared on horseback, riding sidesaddle, as he is known to do.

Me knows that me is not very smart. This emerald encrusted gem of self-esteem was followed shortly thereafter by....me'd like to have children as soon as possible. Now my heart was open but I must confess I am in no hurry to have stupid children.

>>The results have been miraculous: I am aware of every problem I have ever had and the root cause behind each one of those problems, and yet somehow have not discovered the means to change a single pattern of behavior.
>
>Got Jesus? Probably not.

Indeed, but what are the purposes of psychology and psychiatry? It has been observed that w/o God, laborers work in vain; that when a man gets rid of his demon seven more can come in.... this is the human condition.

You are right that we need a Savior, and thank God that He gave us one in the person of Jesus.

19
posted on 07/28/2009 8:15:47 AM PDT
by OneWingedShark
(Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)

Indeed, but what are the purposes of psychology and psychiatry? It has been observed that w/o God, laborers work in vain; that when a man gets rid of his demon seven more can come in.... this is the human condition.

You are right that we need a Savior, and thank God that He gave us one in the person of Jesus.

I think that psychiatry and psychology are necessary and good tools when used properly, but like many things can be misused and go badly wrong in the hands of godless men.

22
posted on 07/28/2009 8:31:50 AM PDT
by TChris
(There is no freedom without the possibility of failure.)

>Psychology and psychiatry are examples of “hollow and deceptive philosophies of this world”.

I do certainly believe that they have been overrun by these deceptive & destructive philosophies, like “women’s studies” in sociology. However I’m a bit weary of throwing a blanket statement like that up.

That “women’s studies” is a blatant platform for certain [destructive & incorrect] philosophies does NOT invalidate the philosophy [or perhaps better said as ‘rationale’] of sociology... and there IS a valid point in sociology for looking at the role of women in a society, which one could take to be the VERY basic [oversimplified] meaning of women’s studies.

Likewise psychology seems to be much more about the underlying ‘why’ in behavior w/o [much] regard to fixing it; especially when you move into studying the mechanics of the brain. Having said that, I don’t like psychology because it is a soft science with MUCH of its findings up for [very different] interpretation.

Psychiatry seems to me to REALLY be such a “hollow and deceptive philosophy of this world” because it seems to present a “fixing” which seems to too often include the embracing of irresponsibility. {”It’s mom’s/dad’s/society’s/environment’s fault!”} But let us distinguish this from counseling, which really does seem to strive to fix some broken things about people.

So having, hopefully, made my position clear, might I ask you to justify/explain the blanket-statement: Psychology and psychiatry are examples of “hollow and deceptive philosophies of this world”.

23
posted on 07/28/2009 8:36:41 AM PDT
by OneWingedShark
(Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)

I really don’t think I can expand much further on why I consider those areas of study to be hollow and deceptive philosophies of this world than you already have done in the paragraphs explaining your position.

David Noebel, however, in “Thinking Like a Christian”,
has a much more in depth analysis of this. I’d highly suggest reading that and “Understanding the Times”.

What the girl needs is a personal revelation of Shocking Beauty, which is found only in One Person: Jesus, Who is called “Christ.”

Sadly, there are even many who are called “Christian” who have never received such a revelation. Consequently, much in the world that is categorized as “Christian” is dull, boring, flaccid, insipid, plain, dreary, and uninteresting, if not worse.

Peter Kreeft, in 2007, delivered an EXCELLENT talk with a Q&A session afterward that I think you’ll all enjoy; it will certainly drive you to some serious introspection about your own perception of Shocking Beauty.

>> This didn’t have anything to do with politics.
>> It didn’t have anything to do with being a liberal
>> or a conservative. It had to do with being a human
>> being, and frankly, I felt badly for her and hoped
>> that whatever path she chose, she’d eventually
>> find her box in the sand.

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